[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] [click on the name in the sub-headline to go to that person’s press release]
Canada Post to Pay Tribute to Indigenous Leaders with Second Stamp Set in Multi-Year Series
New stamps will honour lives and legacies of Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux

Issue date: 21 JuneOTTAWA – Canada Post will once again mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 by issuing a set of stamps honouring three Indigenous leaders.

Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux will each be featured on a stamp recognizing their dedication to advocate for the rights of the Inuit, First Nations and Métis communities they proudly served.

This stamp issue is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series, launched last year. Each stamp will be unveiled at local events in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, North Vancouver, British Columbia and St. Albert, Alberta.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp honours Nellie Cournoyea, the first Indigenous woman to lead a provincial or territorial government in Canada
Cournoyea fought for Indigenous self-determination while leading numerous organizations, including the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement.

ULUKHAKTOK, Northwest Territories –Canada Post has unveiled a stamp honouring the life and work of Nellie Cournoyea, at a community event in Ulukhaktok.

Champion of her people – the Inuvialuit of Canada’s western Arctic – Nellie Cournoyea is known for the unwavering vision, work ethic and heart that have guided her fight for Indigenous self-determination and Inuit empowerment. She became the first Indigenous woman, and second woman, to head a provincial or territorial government in Canada, as Premier of the Northwest Territories (1991-95).

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

The life and legacy of Nellie Cournoyea
Nellie Cournoyea was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. Her father was a trapper and immigrant from Norway; her mother, an Inuvialuit (or Inupiaq) woman from Herschel Island, Yukon.

Cournoyea grew up living a traditional lifestyle, completing most of her education by correspondence courses sent to her family’s bush camp. She embarked on a career in radio and, later, as a land claims fieldworker.

As co-founder of the Committee for Original Peoples’ Entitlement, she helped negotiate the ground-breaking Inuvialuit Final Agreement, which included a land settlement of more than 90,000 square kilometres.

Cournoyea was elected to the legislature in 1979 and held many ministerial portfolios prior to her selection as Premier. She played a significant role in the discussions leading to the creation of Nunavut and, after leaving office, headed the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for 20 years.

An Officer of the Order of Canada, Cournoyea is now in her 80s and remains active as chair of the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board and vice-chair of the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Aklavik, Northwest Territories (Cournoyea’s birthplace), the stamp features a photo of Cournoyea taken in 2022 by Peggy Jay. The Official First Day Cover and the inside of the booklet feature a photograph of Cournoyea taken in 1993 by Tessa Macintosh. That image is superimposed over a photograph taken at Trout Lake, Northwest Territories, by Robert Postma.
The cancellation mark, illustrated by Tania Willard, is a white (or Arctic) fox, one of the symbols on the Northwest Territories coat of arms.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series highlights the contributions of modern-day First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp pays tribute to First Nations political leader, author and champion of his people, George Manuel
Strong-willed and tireless in his dedication, Manuel lobbied for the inclusion of Indigenous and treaty rights in the Canadian Constitution.

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In North Vancouver, Canada Post has unveiled a commemorative stamp honouring the life and legacy of George Manuel.

A member of the Neskonlith Indian Band of the Secwepemc Nation in British Columbia, Manuel (1921 89), was an author, astute political strategist and champion of Indigenous Peoples whom many credit with inspiring the modern Indigenous movement in Canada. During a political career that spanned four decades, Manuel dedicated himself to uniting Indigenous Peoples around the world at the local, regional, national and international levels.

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

George Manuel’s work and legacy
George Manuel served as National Chief of what is now the Assembly of First Nations from 1970 to 1976, and as the first president of both the World Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

Manuel believed that Indigenous Peoples, at home and around the world, could achieve their goals if they united. He fought the Canadian government’s policies of assimilation and organized the Constitution Express, a movement that brought supporters from the west to Ottawa, and to the United Nations headquarters in New York, by train in 1980 – and to Europe in 1981 – to lobby for the inclusion of Indigenous rights in the patriated Canadian Constitution.

His efforts contributed to the recognition and affirmation of existing Indigenous and treaty rights in the Constitution Act, 1982.

Co-founder of the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Manuel was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. He died on November 15, 1989, in Kamloops, British Columbia.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Chase, B.C. (George Manuel’s birthplace), this stamp features a bold reinterpretation of a black and white image taken of Manuel in the 1970s. The multi-coloured designs, illustrated by Secwepemc artist Tania Willard, represent the “shining light” of Manuel’s message for international Indigenous rights, while the deep red ochre evokes the pictographs and other markings found on Secwepemc lands.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders stamp series highlights the contributions of modern-day First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

This year, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Post will issue stamps honouring Indigenous leaders Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp honours Métis leader Thelma Chalifoux, the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate of Canada
Chalifoux dedicated her life to advocating for social justice and women’s and Indigenous rights.

ST. ALBERT, Alberta – Canada Post has unveiled a new commemorative stamp honouring Métis activist and trailblazer, Thelma Chalifoux.

The first Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate of Canada, Chalifoux was a powerful force for social justice and women’s and Indigenous rights.

This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be released on June 21. The set is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

The life and legacy of Thelma Chalifoux
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Chalifoux (1929-2017) was known for her kind heart and boundless energy. She channelled the strength she gained from her own personal challenges to help others and speak up against discrimination.

After leaving an abusive husband and fighting to regain custody of her children – who, like many other Indigenous children, were forced into the child welfare system – she went back to school and became a fieldworker with Métis Association of Alberta, what is now the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Later working for the Association in Slave Lake, Alberta, Chalifoux co-founded the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, which provides a range of programs and services to urban Indigenous people. She also ran the community’s first safe house for women fleeing from domestic violence. A land claims negotiator from 1979 to 1982 (and again from 1996 to 1998), she was involved in constitutional talks in the early 1980s as part of a Métis delegation to Ottawa that helped to get First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples recognized as separate and distinct nations.

In 1997, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her to the Senate, making her the first Indigenous woman to become a senator. She fought tirelessly to improve the welfare of her people, particularly Métis women, and helped create provincial programs for Indigenous Peoples in the areas of housing, education and social assistance.

After retiring in 2004, Chalifoux went on to help found the Michif Cultural Institute (now Michif Cultural Connections) and the St. Albert’s Meadowview Centre for Women’s Health and Wellness, both in St. Albert. She also served as an Elder at the Nechi Institute: Centre of Indigenous Learning and was Métis Elder in Residence at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She died on September 22, 2017, at age 88.

About the stamp
Cancelled in Calgary, Alberta (Thelma Chalifoux’s birthplace), the stamp features a photo of Chalifoux from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The background shows detail from The Celebration, a painting by Métis visual artist Christi Belcourt, and pays homage to Chalifoux’s love of flowers.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders series highlights the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. These extraordinary people dedicated their lives to preserving their cultures and improving the quality of life of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

This year, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Post will issue stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux.

The new stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada rendra hommage à des dirigeants autochtones avec l’émission d’un deuxième jeu de timbres d’une série pluriannuelle
De nouveaux timbres souligneront la vie et l’héritage de Nellie Cournoyea, de George Manuel et de Thelma Chalifoux.

OTTAWA – Postes Canada soulignera une nouvelle fois la Journée nationale des peuples autochtones le 21 juin en émettant un jeu de timbres rendant hommage à deux dirigeantes et un dirigeant autochtones.

Nellie Cournoyea, George Manuel et Thelma Chalifoux seront en vedette sur des timbres individuels émis en reconnaissance de leur dévouement à la défense des droits des communautés inuit, métisses et des Premières Nations qu’ils ont fièrement servies.

Cette émission de timbres est la deuxième de la série pluriannuelle consacrée aux dirigeants autochtones, lancée l’an dernier par Postes Canada. Les vignettes seront dévoilées lors d’événements qui se tiendront à Ulukhaktok, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, à North Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique et à St. Albert, en Alberta.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Nellie Cournoyea : le 11 juin à 13 h 30 he (heure des Rocheuses), à Ulukhaktok (T.N.-O)
Née en 1940, Nellie Cournoyea consacre sa vie à la lutte pour l’autodétermination des Autochtones et l’émancipation des Inuit. Élue première ministre des Territoires du Nord-Ouest en 1991, elle devient la première femme autochtone à diriger un gouvernement provincial ou territorial au Canada. Elle joue un rôle clé dans les discussions menant à la création du Nunavut, puis prend la tête de l’Inuvialuit Regional Corporation pendant 20 ans après sa retraite de la politique. Officier de l’Ordre du Canada, elle est actuellement présidente du Conseil consultatif de Nutrition Nord Canada et vice-présidente de la Société communautaire de Tuktoyaktuk.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à George Manuel : le 12 juin à 13 h (heure du Pacifique), à North Vancouver (C.-B.)
Leader politique des Premières Nations, George Manuel (1921-1989) est aussi défenseur des peuples autochtones et auteur. Au cours d’une carrière politique qui s’étend sur quatre décennies, il occupe de nombreux postes influents et travaille à améliorer les conditions sociales, économiques et politiques des Premières Nations au Canada. Ses efforts contribuent à l’inclusion des droits ancestraux et issus de traités des peuples autochtones dans la Constitution du Canada. Cofondateur du Center for World Indigenous Studies, George Manuel est proposé à trois reprises pour le prix Nobel de la paix et reçoit de nombreuses marques de reconnaissance pour son travail, y compris le titre d’Officier de l’Ordre du Canada.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Thelma Chalifoux : le 13 juin à 13 h (heure des Rocheuses), à St. Albert (Alb.)
Activiste métisse, Thelma Chalifoux (1929-2017) tire sa force de ses difficultés personnelles pour aider les autres et lutter contre la discrimination. Première femme autochtone nommée au Sénat du Canada en 1997, elle consacre sa vie à l’amélioration du bien-être de son peuple, en particulier des femmes métisses. Elle joue un rôle déterminant dans la création de nombreux programmes provinciaux pour le logement, l’éducation et l’aide sociale venant en aide aux peuples autochtones. Thelma Chalifoux travaille comme aînée en résidence au Northern Alberta Institute of Technology et participe également à la fondation du Michif Cultural Connections, un musée et un centre de ressources, à St. Albert.

Les timbres et les articles de collection seront en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays, dès le 21 juin

Issue Date: 6 May, 2023

by Danforth Guy
Special to The Virtual Stamp Club

Canada now has a definitive stamp for the coronation of King Charles III, the monarch of 15 countries, including Canada. A recent poll showed 60% of Canadians do not wish to acknowledge him as king of this country (66% oppose his wife Camilla as “queen of Canada”). Nevertheless, the postal service appears to feel compelled to picture him on a stamp, even though no rule or law requires it.

The self-adhesive comes in a booklet of 10, denominated at the “P” (Permanent) rate, currently 92¢, which covers domestic mail up to 30g. The stamp names the monarch, a departure from most previous definitives that pictured a sovereign. The photo was taken by Alan Shawcross, apparently in London, UK, and apparently in 2007. (Click on this link to see the original photo.)

No Canadian has ever been honoured on a first-class definitive, just British monarchs. This issue continues that tradition.

Updated May 6:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post issues first Canadian stamp featuring His Majesty King Charles III as Monarch
New definitive stamp continues more than 170 years of historic tradition

OTTAWA – Today, Canada Post unveiled Canada’s first definitive stamp featuring His Majesty King Charles III at the Canadian ceremony marking the Coronation of the new monarch, hosted by Canadian Heritage.This is the first time His Majesty King Charles III has appeared on the Canadian stamp.

The stamp continues Canada Post’s long-standing tradition of issuing definitive stamps depicting the Canadian sovereign, dating back more than 170 years. This tradition first begun in 1851 with a pre-Confederation stamp featuring Queen Victoria, the King’s great-great-great grandmother.

On September 8, 2022, His Majesty ascended the throne upon the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The King has been the heir apparent since 1951, and was created Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth II when he was nine years old. Since His Majesty’s first official tour of Canada in 1970, he has returned numerous times with his most recent trip in 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

The definitive stamp was designed by Paprika, and features a portrait of His Majesty King Charles III, then The Prince of Wales, by photographer Alan Shawcross. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover [below]. The Official First Day Cover features a photograph of His Majesty in Ottawa during the 2022 Royal Tour, when he was The Prince of Wales. The photo on the Official First Day Cover was taken by Canadian photographer Justin Tang. The cancel site is Ottawa, Ontario. The stamp will be issued on Monday, May 8, 2023. A definitive stamp is a postage stamp that is part of a regular issue of stamps, designed to serve the everyday needs and issued in indefinite quantities. A commemorative stamp celebrates a special place, event, person, theme or theme, often issued on a significant date. Unlike a definitive stamp which is reprinted for general usage, a commemorative stamp is printed in a limited quantities and is available until stamps run out.

The new stamp and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada émet le premier timbre canadien à l’effigie de Sa Majesté le roi Charles III
Le nouveau timbre courant perpétue une tradition de plus de 170 ans

OTTAWA – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a dévoilé son tout premier timbre courant à l’effigie de Sa Majesté le roi Charles III à l’occasion de la cérémonie organisée par Patrimoine canadien en l’honneur du couronnement du nouveau monarque.

Cette émission perpétue une longue tradition de production de timbres courants présentant le souverain canadien, qui a commencé avant la confédération, en 1851, il y a plus de 170 ans, par une vignette consacrée à la reine Victoria, l’arrière-arrière-grand-mère du Roi.

Le 8 septembre 2022, Sa Majesté a accédé au trône après le décès de sa mère, la reine Elizabeth II. Héritier apparent depuis 1951, il a été fait prince de Galles par la Reine à l’âge de neuf ans. Après sa première visite officielle au Canada en 1970, Sa Majesté y est revenue à plusieurs reprises, notamment en 2022 dans le cadre des célébrations du jubilé de platine de la reine Elizabeth II.

Le timbre courant a été conçu par la maison Paprika et présente un portrait de Sa Majesté le roi Charles III, alors prince de Galles, réalisé par le photographe Alan Shawcross. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel. Le pli Premier Jour est orné d’une photo de Sa Majesté prise à Ottawa par le photographe canadien Justin Tang lors de la visite royale de 2022, alors qu’il était le prince de Galles. Le lieu d’oblitération est Ottawa, en Ontario. Le timbre sera émis le lundi 8 mai 2023. Un timbre courant fait partie d’une émission régulière. Produit en quantités indéfinies, il est conçu pour répondre aux besoins quotidiens. Un timbre commémoratif, souvent émis à une date significative, met en vedette un lieu, un événement, une personne ou un thème spécial. Contrairement au timbre courant, qui est réimprimé pour un usage général, un timbre commémoratif est produit en quantités limitées et offert jusqu’à épuisement des stocks.

Le timbre et les articles de collection seront en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Issue date: May 1, 2023

From Details magazine:

Read all about it! The latest Canada Post Community Foundation semi-postal fundraising stamp issue highlights the importance of literacy and imagination in the lives of children. The stamp is now being released in the spring to accommodate the addition of the annual Truth and Reconciliation stamp issue to the program in September and ensure both stamp issues – and the important stories they tell – get the time, attention and respect they deserve.

Designed by John Belisle Creative and illustrated by John Belisle, the stamp depicts a diverse group of animals reading a story together. The “read me a story” theme reminds us of the ways that stories and storytelling enhance the lives of children and youth, as well as of the creativity and curiosity that stories inspire.

A $1 surcharge from the sale of each booklet of 10 stamps, or an extra 10 cents from the sale of each Official First Day Cover, goes directly to the Foundation to help fund local and national non-profit groups that serve the needs of children and youth. Since 2012, the Canada Post Community Foundation has supported more than 1,100 community organizations that bring positive change to Canadian children.

Issue date: April 18, 2023

[day of release press release follows the Technical Specifications box.]

Click here to see a surprising FDC for this issue.

From Details magazine:

Issued in the lead-up to Earth Day and Mother’s Day, these stamps depicting the tender relationship between two animal mothers and their babies are a perfect marriage of science and art.

Halifax designer Meredith MacKinlay and Temagami Anishinaabe artist Caroline Brown collaborated on the concept for the evocative stamp images, which Brown created by combining new and traditional techniques of embroidery and beadwork. “Fabric-based crafts have that feeling of homeyness and familial love,” explains MacKinlay. “Embroidery is so textural, it seemed an ideal way to show the fur of the sea otter and feathers of the red-necked grebe.”

souvenir sheet

Sole caregivers, mother sea otters float on their backs to feed, groom and cradle their young. The species, once hunted for its luxurious fur, was extirpated from British Columbia but has made a gradual comeback since being reintroduced. Red-necked grebes share responsibility for incubating their eggs and feeding the chicks, which ride on their parents’ backs after hatching. The two species face many threats, including oil spills and other human disturbances.

For Brown, an avid stamp collector as a child and whose First Nations heritage has fostered a strong connection with nature, the project was a labour of love. “We worked with wildlife experts to make sure the animals were rendered accurately but also wanted to show the emotional connection between mother and baby,” she says. “We gave the images a storybook quality and a sense of motion to make people curious about the worlds in which these creatures live – and remind them of how important it is to protect them.”The original artwork crafted for the stamps took several months to create. “The whole philosophy of beadwork is to think about the message you’re trying to convey while you’re doing it,” explains Brown. “You need to have a positive mindset and let it evolve naturally.”Updated April 18th:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Animal Mothers and Babies stamp set celebrates two wildly devoted caregivers
Sea otters and red-necked grebes serve as protective floating havens for their young

VANCOUVER – Canada Post today issued a new Animal Mothers and Babies stamp set that highlights two special caregivers of the wild – the sea otter and the red-necked grebe. Native to Canada, both species are known for their incredible devotion to their young, allowing their babies to float on them during the first stage of their lives.

Issued ahead of Mother’s Day and during the week of Earth Day, the stamps celebrate the bond between animal mothers and their young while also encouraging positive action on protecting Canada’s wildlife.

Sea otters
Mature female sea otters give birth to a single pup every year for life. Dedicated to their pups for the first six months of their lives, mothers – who are the sole caregivers – float on their backs to feed, groom and cradle their babies. During this time, the pups also learn to forage and swim.

The sea otter was once hunted for its luxurious fur and was eventually extirpated from British Columbia, but the species has made a gradual comeback since it was reintroduced. It continues to face many threats, including oil spills and fishing gear entanglement, and is currently listed as being of special concern in Canada.

Red-necked grebes
Monogamous pairs of red-necked grebes share the parenting duties. The water birds take turns incubating their eggs and carrying their chicks, which climb onto their parents’ backs immediately after hatching. The parents continue to transport their chicks on their backs until their offspring are between 10 and 17 days old. At that point, they’re able to swim – though they’re not completely independent until seven to nine weeks when they begin to fly.

Found across most of Canada, the red-necked grebes winter off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Like sea otters, they face threats such as oil spills, as well as loss of their freshwater nesting habitat from other human disturbances.

About the Stamp
Designer Meredith MacKinlay of Halifax-based Egg Design chose embroidery as the basis

souvenir sheet

for the design because it evokes the feel of home and family love as well as the texture of fur and feathers. Temagami Anishinaabe artist Caroline Brown created the images on the stamps using a combination of traditional embroidery and beadwork.

Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of six Permanent domestic rate stamps, a souvenir sheet of both stamps and an Official First Day Cover. The cancel site is Vancouver, as British Columbia is home to Canada’s only remaining sea otter population.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Le jeu de timbres sur les Mères et bébés animaux célèbre deux espèces très dévouées
Les loutres de mer et les grèbes jougris servent de refuges flottants pour leur progéniture.

VANCOUVER – Postes Canada a émis aujourd’hui le nouveau jeu de timbres Mères et bébés animaux mettant en vedette deux espèces très protectrices : la loutre de mer et le grèbe jougris. Originaires du Canada et reconnus pour leur dévouement incroyable envers leurs petits, ces animaux permettent à leurs rejetons de flotter sur eux au tout début de leur vie.

Émis avant la fête des Mères et pendant la semaine du Jour de la Terre, les timbres célèbrent le lien entre les femelles et leurs petits, tout en encourageant la prise de mesures positives pour protéger la faune du Canada.

Loutres de mer
La femelle loutre donne naissance à un unique loutron par année. Seule à prendre soin de ses petits, elle flotte sur le dos pour les nourrir, faire leur toilette et les porter pendant les six premiers mois de leur vie. Pendant cette période, les bébés loutres apprennent également à se nourrir et à nager.

Autrefois chassée pour sa fourrure luxueuse, l’espèce avait disparu de la Colombie-Britannique, mais a fait un retour graduel depuis sa réintroduction. Figurant aujourd’hui sur la liste des espèces préoccupantes au Canada, la loutre de mer continue d’être exposée à de nombreuses menaces, comme les déversements de pétrole et l’enchevêtrement dans les engins de pêche.

Grèbes jougris
Tour à tour, mâles et femelles grèbes jougris, qui sont des oiseaux aquatiques monogames, couvent leurs œufs et transportent leurs oisillons, qui grimpent sur leur dos immédiatement après la naissance. Ils continuent à transporter leurs bébés jusqu’à ce qu’ils aient entre 10 et 17 jours. À ce moment-là, les jeunes grèbes peuvent nager, bien qu’ils ne soient pas complètement indépendants avant sept à neuf semaines, lorsqu’ils commencent à voler.

Présents presque partout au Canada, ces oiseaux hivernent au large des côtes du Pacifique et de l’Atlantique. À l’instar des loutres de mer, ils sont exposés à des menaces comme les déversements de pétrole, mais aussi à la perte de leur habitat de nidification en eau douce causée par l’activité humaine.

À propos des timbres
La designer Meredith MacKinlay, de l’agence Egg Design d’Halifax, a choisi la broderie

booklet pane

pour base de la conception, car cette technique dégage une certaine chaleur et une aura d’amour familial, en plus de bien rendre la texture de la fourrure et des plumes des animaux. Caroline Brown, artiste anishinaabe de Temagami, a créé les œuvres des timbres en combinant la broderie et le perlage.

Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 10 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur, un bloc-feuillet des deux timbres et un pli Premier Jour officiel. Le lieu d’oblitération est Vancouver, car la Colombie-Britannique abrite la seule population de loutres de mer qui subsiste au Canada.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.
Updated May 7th:
Going the extra mile for an unofficial-location FDC! VSC contributor “Danforth Guy” serviced this picture postcard in Stephenville, Newfoundland, with the first day date for these stamps:Here’s the front of the card showing this World Heritage Site: It took Danforth two hours by snowmobile to the park: Rocky Harbour at the top of this map is just outside the park, and you’ll find Stephenville at the bottom, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) by road. (Google Maps doesn’t give trip estimates for snowmobiles.) Our intrepid correspondent made the trip in late March, and as you can see in this next map, it’s far enough north that a solid snowpack in late March is not out of the question. Thanks, “Guy!”

The announcement from Canada Post in the April 14 issue of Details is just “May: A century-and-a-half milestone.” VSC contributor Danforth Guy speculates this is like to be an issue for the RCMP, one of whose predecessor agencies was founded May 23, 1873. Read more in Wikipedia.

Our “Guy” in Canada was right:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Stamp marks founding of Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Recognizing 150th anniversary of the historic institution

OTTAWA – Canada Post issued a new stamp today recognizing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on the 150th anniversary of its establishment in 1873. The stamp design features a member of the RCMP in traditional dress, acknowledging the historic roots of the organization, along with images that represent the RCMP as a modern national police service – including the role of its civilian members and public service employees – from responding to emergencies to investigating cybercrime.

Commemorating 150 years of history
As part of our stamp program, Canada Post has a tradition of paying tribute to significant milestones, events and individuals’ contributions in Canadian history. Founded on May 23, 1873, as the North-West Mounted Police, the RCMP has played a significant role in Canada over the past 150 years.

Originally assembled near Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1874, a mounted unit of 300 men recruited from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with local Métis guides, set out on the “March West.” The purpose of the organization at that time was to administer the laws of Canada in the Northwest Territories after the transfer of jurisdiction from the British Crown. In the following decades, the role and mandate of the organization changed as it gradually took on policing duties in more provinces and territories, along with federal responsibilities.

Today, RCMP employees serve in a wide range of functions that include preventing and investigating crime; enforcing federal, provincial and territorial law; protecting national security and contributing to international intelligence-sharing and peace operations.

“Canada Post’s iconic national stamp program has a tradition of marking historical moments, events and individuals’ [contributions] that have played an important role in Canada’s history. This includes the historic anniversary of the RCMP, which has played a significant role in our country over the past 150 years.”
— Doug Ettinger, President and CEO of Canada Post

“The RCMP is very proud to be honoured with a special stamp for our 150th anniversary. The stamp is a fitting tribute to both the heritage of our organization and to the amazing people who proudly serve the RCMP today and who dedicate their careers to keeping Canada safe.”
— Mike Duheme, RCMP Commissioner

About the stamp
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police 150th Anniversary stamp was designed by Réjean Myette, and the design features a collage of imagery representing the modern RCMP organization. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of six PermanentTM domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Ottawa.

The new stamp and collectible are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Timbre marquant la fondation de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada
Le timbre souligne le 150e anniversaire de cette organisation historique

OTTAWA – Postes Canada a émis aujourd’hui un nouveau timbre qui rend hommage à la Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC) à l’occasion du 150e anniversaire de sa fondation en 1873. Le timbre présente un agent de la GRC en tenue traditionnelle, rappelant les racines historiques de l’organisation. Les images qui l’accompagnent illustrent le rôle que joue aujourd’hui la GRC (y compris ses membres civils et ses fonctionnaires) en tant que police nationale qui intervient en cas d’urgence et enquête sur la cybercriminalité.

Commémoration de 150 ans d’histoire
Le programme de timbres-poste commémoratifs de Postes Canada célèbre depuis longtemps des événements et des personnes qui ont marqué l’histoire de notre pays. Fondée le 23 mai 1873 sous le nom de Police à cheval du Nord-Ouest, la GRC a joué un rôle important au Canada au cours des 150 dernières années.

S’étant rassemblée à l’origine près de Winnipeg, au Manitoba, en 1874, une unité montée de 300 hommes recrutés en Ontario, au Québec, au Nouveau-Brunswick et en Nouvelle-Écosse entame la Marche vers l’Ouest avec des guides métis locaux. L’objectif de l’organisation à l’époque est d’appliquer les lois du Canada dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest après le transfert des compétences de la Couronne britannique. Au cours des décennies qui suivent, le rôle et le mandat de l’organisation changent, car celle-ci assume graduellement des fonctions de police dans un plus grand nombre de provinces et territoires, ainsi que des responsabilités fédérales.

Aujourd’hui, les membres de la GRC remplissent diverses fonctions, notamment la prévention et les enquêtes criminelles, l’application des lois fédérales, provinciales et territoriales, la protection de la sécurité nationale et la contribution aux opérations internationales de partage de renseignements et de maintien de la paix.

« Le programme de timbres-poste commémoratifs de Postes Canada célèbre depuis longtemps des événements et des personnes qui ont marqué l’histoire de notre pays. Cela comprend l’anniversaire historique de la GRC, qui a joué un rôle important dans l’histoire du Canada au cours des 150 dernières années. »
— Doug Ettinger, Président-directeur général de Postes Canada

« La GRC est très fière d’être honorée avec un timbre spécial à l’occasion de son 150e anniversaire. Le timbre est un bel hommage à l’héritage de notre organisation et aux personnes exceptionnelles qui servent fièrement la GRC aujourd’hui et qui consacrent leur carrière à la sécurité du Canada. »
— Mike Duheme, commissaire de la GRC

À propos du timbre
Le timbre du 150e anniversaire de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada a été conçu par Réjean Myette. La vignette comprend un collage d’images représentant la GRC d’aujourd’hui. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 6 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Ottawa.

Le timbre et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

From Canada Post’s Details magazine:

Crafted nearly 700 years ago in medieval Iran, the elegant, hand-painted ceramic bowl on this year’s Eid stamp became part of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) collection in 1909. Made during Ramadan – one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar – it would likely have served many owners over the centuries as a vessel for foods eaten to break the fast each night.

The bowl has a special connection to the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan. Made of stonepaste – a hard material invented by Middle Eastern potters from a mixture of ground quartz, glass and clay – it is inscribed with a dated poem written for its owner.

“There’s a deep sense of humanity in this bowl that still rings true, especially with all the turmoil in the world today,” says Dr. Fahmida Suleman, Islamic World curator at the ROM. “The poem urges us to take a moment to forget our sorrows and be grateful for what we have – and wishes us protection and a bit of luck. Blues are auspicious in Islam, so even the colours the artist chose were meant to uplift the soul.”

Canada Post’s day-of-issue (March 1) announcement
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Annual Flower Stamp Issue Highlights Double-Flowered Ranunculus

OTTAWA – Canada Post’s latest stamp issue welcomes spring with the lavish, rose-like blossoms of the ranunculus. The stunning plant is a favourite of florists and gardeners and a popular choice for wedding bouquets, centrepieces and containers.

[Shown on the right: The booklet pane of 10 which includes small stickers.]

Ranunculus asiaticus, the variety pictured on this year’s flower issue, is also known as Persian buttercup. Native to southwestern Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa, the plant may have arrived in northern Europe during the Crusades but was not widely cultivated until the 17th century.

While the wild ranunculus is usually yellow, cultivated blooms can be orange, red, violet or pink. This two-stamp issue depicts Ranunculus asiaticusas a single flower and a bouquet, in many shades of pink.

Designed by Stéphane Huot, with images by Veronique Meignaud, the stamps are available in booklets of 10 and coils of 50, as well as collectible coil strips of 4 and 10 stamps. The Official First Day Cover is cancelled in Goderich, Ontario, considered one of the prettiest towns in Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Une émission de timbres consacrée aux fleurs met en vedette des renoncules doubles

OTTAWA – La plus récente émission de timbres de Postes Canada annonce le printemps avec de somptueuses renoncules. Ces magnifiques fleurs semblables à des roses figurent parmi les fleurs préférées chez les fleuristes et dans les jardins, et elles sont populaires dans les bouquets de mariage, les centres de table et en vase.

Le Ranunculus asiaticus, la variété présentée sur les vignettes de cette année, est aussi appelée la renoncule des fleuristes. Originaire du sud-ouest de l’Asie, du sud de l’Europe et du nord de l’Afrique, la plante serait arrivée dans le nord de l’Europe pendant les croisades, mais n’est cultivée à grande échelle que depuis le XVIIe siècle.

Bien que la renoncule sauvage soit habituellement jaune, la fleur cultivée peut être orange, rouge, violette ou rose. Cette émission de deux timbres présente le Ranunculus asiaticus seul et en bouquet, dans une variété de teintes de rose.

Conçues par Stéphane Huot et ornées d’images de Veronique Meignaud, les vignettes sont offertes en carnets de 10, en rouleaux de 50, ainsi qu’en bandes de collection de 4 et 10 timbres provenant de rouleaux. Le pli Premier Jour officiel est oblitéré à Goderich, en Ontario, qui est considérée comme l’une des plus jolies villes canadiennes. From Canada Post’s Details magazine:

Once again, Canada Post welcomes spring with its annual flower issue. The 2023 stamps feature the lavish, rose-like blossoms of Ranunculus asiaticus, one of the many varieties of ranunculus that are a favourite of florists and gardeners and a popular choice for wedding bouquets, centrepieces and containers.

Native to southwestern Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa, Ranunculus asiaticus is also known as Persian buttercup. The name Ranunculus comes from the Latin words for “little frog,” since many species grow near streams – although the variety shown on the stamps is more partial to sunny hillsides and pastures. While the wild Ranunculus is usually yellow, cultivated blooms can be orange, red, violet or various shades of pink.

Designed by Stéphane Huot, with images by Veronique Meignaud, the stamps are available in booklets of 10 and coils of 50, as well as collectible coil strips of 4 and 10 stamps. The Official First Day Cover is cancelled in Goderich, Ontario, considered one of the prettiest towns in Canada.

Hours after we posted Danforth’s story, Canada Post issued a press release confirming his story.]

By Danforth Guy

An enslaved woman who became a symbol of resistance to slavery and a catalyst to the abolition movement will be featured on Canada Post’s 2023 Black History stamp, to be issued January 30. Chloe Cooley’s violent protest to being sold by her Ontario owner to one in New York in 1793 led directly to a law restricting slavery in the province known as Upper Canada, at the time.

Cooley was forced into a boat in Queenston, Ontario, screaming and flailing. She was then bound and gagged, and could not escape her captors, who took her across the Niagara River to owners in New York.

The scene was witnessed on the Ontario shore by a free Black veteran of the American Revolution, Peter Martin, and by a white employee of Cooley’s Loyalist slave owner. They reported the disturbing scene to Lt.-Governor John Simcoe.

The law that resulted was a compromise, as many in the government were slave-owners, themselves. The 1793 Act did not free a single slave, but it did prohibit the importation of slaves, and freed the children of slaves at age 25. This eventually created a safe haven that made southern Ontario the ultimate destination on the Underground Railroad.

The first day issue location has not been announced, but it’s a good guess the postmark will read “Queenston, ON.” The self-adhesive stamp will be issued in a booklet of six at the first-class domestic rate (92¢), using the ‘P’ indicia.

Chloe Cooley was named a National Historic Person in 2022, and will eventually see a federal plaque in her honour. Meantime, the Ontario Heritage Trust erected this plaque [shown on the left; click to see a much larger version] in 2007 along the Niagara Parkway, near the site of her unwilling removal.

Note: There are no known pictures of Cooley.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Black History Month Stamp Honours Chloe Cooley
Although unable to escape her own bondage, Cooley’s resistance helped forge a path to freedom for enslaved people in Upper Canada

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, Jan. 29, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, Canada Post unveiled a new Black History Month stamp honouring Chloe Cooley, who had a profound impact on the history of enslavement in Canada. Her act of resistance on the evening of March 14, 1793, ushered in legislation that would lead to the gradual abolition of enslavement in Upper Canada and provide a refuge for freedom-seekers from abroad.

Cooley was a young, Black enslaved woman who lived in Queenston, Upper Canada, in the late 18th century. Although enslavement in Upper Canada was on the rise at the time, attitudes toward it were shifting and the abolitionist movement was gaining momentum.

Rumours were growing that enslavement could soon be banned. Fear of losing their investments prompted some enslavers to sell what was legally considered their property. Among them were Sergeant Adam Vrooman, who enslaved Chloe Cooley.

On that chilly March evening, Vrooman abducted Cooley. He violently bound her and, with the assistance of two other men, dragged her to the shores of the Niagara River. But Cooley was defiant. [The booklet pane is shown below.]

She had been known to bravely challenge her enslavement in the ways that she could, such as leaving Vrooman’s property without permission and refusing to do some tasks. So, when her enslaver abducted her, she fought back hard, screaming and yelling for help as she struggled to get free. Her protests were so loud that they drew the attention of those nearby.

Ultimately, however, Cooley was overpowered and taken across the river to New York State, where she was sold.

Although history doesn’t tell us what happened to Cooley after that night, witnesses recounted what they saw to Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, an avowed abolitionist. He was able to use their testimony to introduce new legislation. [The Official First Day Cover is shown below.]

On July 9, 1793, what became known as the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada was passed.

Cooley herself did not benefit from the legislation, but it opened a pathway to freedom for others, as it set the stage for the gradual ending of enslavement in Upper Canada. It also created a legal refuge for those fleeing enslavement in other countries – helping to pave the way for at least 30,000 freedom-seeking Black Americans to make the dangerous journey north to Canada over the decades to come.

In 1833, enslavement was officially abolished throughout the British Empire, and the last remaining enslaved persons in Upper Canadawould finally be freed.

About the stamp
The Chloe Cooley stamp was designed by Lime Design and features the illustrative work of Rick Jacobsen. With no photographs of Chloe Cooley in existence, the illustration was painstakingly created through extensive consultation with experts in local and regional history, Black history and period fashion, as well as through the use of archival maps, paintings, illustrations and other documents. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of six PermanentTM domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover. The cancel site is Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, which includes Queenston.

The stamp and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un Timbre Du Mois De L’histoire Des Noirs En Hommage À Chloe Cooley
Bien qu’incapable d’échapper à son esclavage, Chloe Cooley a contribué par sa résistance à la mise en liberté des personnes asservies dans le Haut-Canada.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON, le 29 janv. 2023 /CNW/ – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a dévoilé un nouveau timbre du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs en l’honneur de Chloe Cooley, qui a eu une grande incidence sur l’histoire de l’esclavage au Canada. Sa résistance le soir du 14 mars 1793 a contribué à l’adoption d’une loi qui allait mener à l’abolition graduelle de l’esclavage dans le Haut-Canada et offrir un refuge aux esclaves d’autres pays.

Chloe Cooley était une jeune femme noire asservie comme domestique à Queenston, dans le Haut-Canada, à la fin du XVIIIe siècle. Bien que l’esclavage dans le Haut-Canada gagnait en popularité à l’époque, l’attitude à l’égard de la pratique changeait et le mouvement abolitionniste prenait de l’ampleur.

Alors que commençaient à planer des rumeurs d’abolition, des maîtres craignaient de perdre ce qui était légalement considéré comme leur propriété. Le sergent Adam Vrooman, le maître de Chloe Cooley, était de ce nombre.

Un soir frisquet de mars, Adam Vrooman a enlevé la jeune femme, l’a violemment ligotée et, avec l’aide de deux hommes, l’a traînée sur les rives de la rivière Niagara. Mais Chloe Cooley s’est débattue.

Elle avait la réputation de lutter courageusement contre son esclavage de toutes les manières possibles, notamment en quittant la propriété d’Adam Vrooman sans permission et en refusant d’accomplir certaines tâches. Alors, quand son maître l’a enlevée, elle s’est débattue et a crié à l’aide pour tenter de se libérer. Ses protestations bruyantes ont été entendues dans les environs.

Malgré sa résistance, Chloe Cooley a été maîtrisée et transportée de force par bateau de l’autre côté de la rivière, dans l’État de New York, où elle a été vendue.

Bien qu’on ignore ce qui est arrivé à la jeune femme après cette soirée, des témoins ont raconté l’événement au lieutenant-gouverneur John Graves Simcoe, un fervent abolitionniste. Ce dernier s’est servi de ces témoignages pour déposer un projet de loi.

Le 9 juillet 1793, la mesure législative qui est devenue la loi visant à restreindre l’esclavage dans le Haut-Canada a été adoptée.

Si Chloe Cooley n’en a pas profité, la loi a ouvert la voie à la liberté pour d’autres en menant à l’abolition graduelle de l’esclavage dans le Haut-Canada. Elle a également créé un refuge légal pour les personnes qui fuyaient l’esclavage dans d’autres pays et a aidé au moins 30 000 Américains noirs en quête de liberté à faire le périlleux voyage vers le Canada au cours des décennies qui ont suivi.

En 1833, l’esclavage a été aboli officiellement à l’échelle de l’Empire britannique, et les derniers esclaves du Haut-Canada ont finalement été libérés.

À propos du timbre
Le timbre consacré à Chloe Cooley a été conçu par Lime Design et est orné d’une illustration de Rick Jacobsen. En l’absence de photos de la jeune femme, les images ont été créées avec soin à la suite de consultations approfondies avec des experts en histoire locale et régionale, en histoire des Noirs et en mode d’époque, ainsi qu’à l’aide de cartes historiques, de peintures, d’illustrations et d’autres documents d’archives. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Niagara-on-the-Lake, en Ontario, où se trouve Queenston.

La vignette et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada’s 2023 stamps will feature His Majesty King Charles III, trailblazers and changemakers
Other stamps will continue to honour Indigenous leaders and celebrate Black History Month

OTTAWA – The 2023 Canadian stamp program will celebrate some of the country’s most accomplished individuals, historic milestones, and the holidays that bring communities together. The lineup includes these topics, among others:

• Canada’s first definitive stamp to honour His Majesty King Charles III, who was proclaimed Canada’s new head of state on September 10, 2022.
• Ferries that charm tourists and serve commuters across Canada.
• Six new stamps that demonstrate how a picture is worth a thousand words
• Quebec activists and trailblazers.
• A hockey pioneer who broke boundaries and gave back to his sport and community.
• A courageous Canadian in the resistance during the Second World War.

Stamps will also be issued in several popular annual series:

• A new stamp to celebrate Black History Month.
• The annual flower series will feature the delicate ranunculus, a favourite of gardeners and the soon-to-be-wed.
• The fundraising stamp for the Canada Post Community Foundation, which supports children and youth.
• Three new stamps will honour Indigenous leaders in the second stamp issue of the series.
• The second stamp issue to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• New Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah stamps will mark these important celebrations.
• Annual Christmas and holiday stamp issues will celebrate the Nativity story and creatively depict the beauty of the Canadian winter.

Canada Post is proud of its role as one of Canada’s storytellers. The independent Stamp Advisory Committee recommends the subjects for the annual stamp program and relies on thoughtful input from groups and individuals to choose subjects that are meaningful to all Canadians.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Les timbres canadiens de 2023 mettront en vedette Sa Majesté le roi Charles III et des personnes d’ici ayant laissé leur marque
D’autres timbres rendront hommage à des dirigeants autochtones et au Mois de l’histoire des Noirs

OTTAWA – Le programme des timbres-poste du Canada de 2023 comptera parmi ses sujets variés des personnes d’ici accomplies, des moments marquants de l’histoire et des fêtes rassembleuses. En voici un aperçu :

• Le premier timbre courant du Canada en l’honneur de Sa Majesté le roi Charles III, proclamé chef d’État du Canada le 10 septembre 2022;
• Des traversiers qui charment les touristes et font la navette partout au Canada;
• Six nouveaux timbres illustrant qu’une image vaut mille mots;
• Des activistes et visionnaires du Québec;
• Un pionnier du hockey qui a brisé des barrières et redonné à son sport et à sa communauté;
• Un brave Canadien dans la résistance pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Des timbres de plusieurs séries annuelles populaires seront également émis:

• Un nouveau timbre du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs;
• Une vignette consacrée à la délicate renoncule, une fleur chouchou dans les jardins et les mariages;
• Le timbre philanthropique de la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada, qui vient en aide aux enfants et aux jeunes;
• Trois nouveaux timbres en l’honneur de dirigeants et dirigeantes autochtones (le deuxième volet de la série);
• La deuxième émission de timbres soulignant la Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation;
• De nouveaux timbres consacrés aux fêtes importantes que sont l’Aïd, Diwali et Hanoukka;
• Les vignettes de l’émission annuelle de Noël et des fêtes, qui célébreront l’histoire de la Nativité et présenteront de manière originale la beauté de l’hiver canadien.

Postes Canada est fière de faire partie des conteurs du Canada. Le Comité consultatif sur les timbres-poste, qui travaille de façon indépendante, recommande les sujets du programme annuel des timbres en s’appuyant sur la contribution réfléchie de groupes et de particuliers pour choisir des sujets significatifs pour tout le pays.

Updated October 30^th, subject to change. Some of the information may not have been confirmed by Canada Post, but the agency did confirm no Lunar New Year stamps in 2023.

All links open in a new window.

A mailing from Canada Post implies this is the end of the 2023 stamp programme. No mention was made of the previously-listed “A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.”